Well I guess I should jump on the band wagon and start a journal...here it goes....

The Meeting

Torrey and I met through a mutual friend (Matt, who I went to HS with) two years ago...I just moved back from Cleveland two months prior when I went out with a bunch of Coast Guard guys. We met at Moondoggies in PB sometime in March of '04 and really hit it off, we had so much in common - colleges, frat life, living in Texas, etc etc etc. Honestly I didnt really think all that much of it but I guess Torrey was really flirting with me! Who would have known. LOL. Anyways two weeks went by when I went out with Matt again to meet up with his buddies. We were hanging out at Matt's friend's (Brandon) place when Brandon called another friend to see what he was up to. This friend was Torrey's roomate and I guess when Torrey heard who was over at Brandons, he hurried over. We again hit it off and again I didnt know Torrey was flirting. He said he brought his A game! LOL. Matt and I ended up leaving though and I didnt know if I'd run into Torrey a third time! Well, I guess in between the two meetings Torrey kept bugging Matt to give him my number but Matt wouldnt budge (because he and I were sorta dating, who knows, but it didnt work out obviously!). Finally I had asked Matt for Torrey's number after the second meeting and after harrassing Matt for a bit he finally gave Torrey my number. Three days later (I thought I was going to have to call him) Torrey called me and we talked for like 3 hours until his phone died. He asked me to Cirque de Soleil (Vareki)and I said yes! He also decided he couldn't wait till Friday for the big date (he called on Tuesday) so we made plans to have dinner Thursday of that week. That was our official first date, April 8, 2004. We went to Macaroni Grill and again talked for hours! Torrey did not think it was going well, he was so nervous, but I proved him wrong when I laid one on him when I said good night. I knew he was special from the start and felt so comfortable with him. So the two dates started a whirlwind of consecutive dates. Saturday we went sailing and had dinner with my parents! Sunday, Torrey braved the family get together for an Easter brunch at a good friend of my family's house. We even were embarrassed when someone asked how long we had been engaged. I was thinking, I don't even know if I am dating this boy! LOL.

So, needless to say, Torrey and I have been happily dating ever since. We really believe we were destined to meet each other. We compliment each other in so many ways and our lives are coming to form one life together so nicely. Torrey is a LTJG in the US Coast Guard which also keeps our relationship on its toes. We have been through five deployments and are currently in our sixth (he just left for Iraq today). It has been very hard but such a good test at our strength as a couple. We've learned that no matter the distance that separates us, we are and always will be a whole. We always joke about the old adage: "Distance makes the heart grow fonder" - but it really does.

I guess that is it for now. I will come back soon to tell the Catalina proposal story!

He will be gone for 3 months (back June 5th hopefully)...I know it isnt that long but it is when you practically see each other every day and spend so much time together. Plus he is gonna be in Iraq/Kuwait and the environment scares me. I told him he has to come home and he said even if he were delayed two months he would fly home against military orders if he has too! :) This deployment just seems so much harder than all the rest, I cried like 5 separate times/days before he left. Poor boy was left in a puddle of tears! But I am getting through it...I am busy and just realized how much school work I need to do between now and May!

Torrey and I became serious pretty quickly. It really was a match made in heaven!!! We talked about marriage a lot but it wasnt until we went skating at Horton Plaza in November of '04 that we stopped to look at rings for the first time. I actually was drawn to the window and Torrey said "well let's go on in." I was so ecstatic.

Then in December the day before he was being deployed he asked me if I wanted to go look at rings at Robbins Bros. Of course I was like heck ya! So we looked and the customer service was great and I fell in love with a 1 ct. round shaped diamond in a platinum and 18k gold setting by Simon G. There was a matching wedding band as well.Well we left the store but all the info was written down. So Torrey left and came back home in March. I was anxious to get engaged but Torrey had his own little plan.

On our one year anniversary he took me for a very romantic dinner atop La Valencia Hotel, the Sky Room. I had hoped for an engagement but no luck! At this time I was a respiratory therapist for Kaiser so when I got a four day weekend in May, Torrey and I had planned to do something special. We always write down things/places we want to go/do and try to do them. One of those places was Catalina. I had never been there and neither had he. So May 21rst we were to do something special and it was a surprise. The 20th of May Torrey and I went condo hunting and he put a down payment on a condo that very day. I had really thought there was no way he could propose now with the new home ownership.

So Saturday May 21rst he picked me up early in the morning. After much hassle, Torrey gave me a list of things to bring (how was I supposed to know what to bring for where we were going? men!),of course his most important was a smile! I was so nervous the drive north because I really thought he was taking me to an amusement park. But I knew he knew how much I hate amusement parks! Finally like 10 minutes before we were there I figured out we were going to Catalina for the day!!!! I was so excited. It was a beautiful summer day and the only bad thing was I was already sunburnt from previous days on the beach. LOL. Anyways, the one thing he didnt remember was the dramamine...I get very queasy on boats. But I was ok and being the sailor he is he patiently coached me through the hour long boat ride to Avalon (a part of Catalina).

It was so beautiful! Like the beaches of Italy or Greece you see on tv. When we got off the boat the first thing I wanted to do (we had both packed bags for the day) was put my bag in a locker. Now this should have been my first clue that Torrey was up to something: he refused to put his backpack in the locker. So we (well he mainly!) had to cart around both bags the whole day. I was totally clueless that the ring he had purchased Monday was hanging out in the front pocket (in the car on the way up he snapped at me not to look in the backack but then said ok, however I decided not to look!). We had the most AMAZING day. I definitely fell in love with him again. We went in all the shops, ate lunch on the pier, took a golf cart around the island, and layed on the beach! After beaching it up I wanted to look in every shop again. Luckily Torrey pursaded me to go have dinner. He wanted to go to this nice seafood place. There was a 30 minute wait though so he asked me to go wait outside. By this time (7:00pm or so) one boat had already left to take people home for the day, so the streets were emptying. We searched for a spot with no bird crap and found one on one of the side streets. We sat down and I really had no idea what would happen next. Oh, and to go back, at lunch I badgered him about getting engaged and if we would ever get married, etc etc etc and he told me he couldnt propose now because of the new condo. I pouted for like 2 hours after that! What a guy to put up with me and try to get me off his back! LOL. Anyways, to get back to waiting for dinner. We were sitting there and Torrey started staring at me. All of a sudden he whipped around and rustled around in his backpack. I was just looking around at the street and when I turned towards him he was down on one knee! I was soooooo shocked. And he said "Ginna Marie...I love you with all of my heart, you are my soul mate and I want to spend the rest of my life with you....will you marry me?" Of course being so stunned I didnt say anything. It was so surreal. He had to ask "is that a yes???" and of course I was like "yes, yes, yes!!!!". So after the hugging and my crying I had to call my best friend and family. My mom and dad had known for a week (my dad actually called me while we were on the boat coming over to Catalina, wondering where I was because Torrey hadnt told him...Torrey was sure my dad had blown his cover, but he didnt!) since Torrey had gone on Sunday to my parents house to ask them for their blessing. The neat thing was there was a group of tourists watching the whole proposal who came over afterward to congratulate us and take our propoal picture! It was sooooo romantic. I was gleeming all the way home! I was so happy we were finally committed to one another.

The planning had been stressful for us both. I think it is esp hard for Torrey because the engagement had been a long one! We do not live together (and dont believe in living together before marriage) so it has been tough counting down more than a year to the wedding. But now we are so close! We cant wait to start our lives together! I have to say Torrey has really stepped up to the plate and he got everything we needed to get done together before he left yesterday for Iraq (buy wedding rings, buy bedroom furniture!, look at tuxes, honeymoon and wedding night suites booked, limos booked, etc). I think because we are closer to the wedding he is more excited and looking forward to it. I just want all the planning to finally be done! Here's our wedding info:

Date: August 12, 2006

Ceremony: Founder's Chapel, USD

Reception: Admiral Kidd Club, Harbor Lounge and Patio

Colors: gold, cream, coral, yellow, orange

Theme: beach elegance - starfish, shells, gold

Officiant: Fr. Rafferty of St. Timothy's Parish in Escondido (he did my confirmation)

Coordinator: Cassandra Heye of CC Event Designs...not sure about her yet...have to get my money's worth from her still!

Photographer: Chana and Don of Photography by Chana and Don...they have been amazing! Can't wait for the beautiful pics I know they'll take!!!

Videographer: Haven't decided quite yet but will prob go with Torrey's brother in law who has done weddings before. Their gift to us if our slideshow which is so awesome because we really wanted one!

Florist: Joyce Lee with Tricity Florist...she is the cutest lady. She did our family friend's wedding and usually does all the flowers for the Grand Tradition in Temecula. She always answers my questions and has been in the business for 20 plus years. Here is a pic of the flowers minus the white calla lilies that will be in my bouquet, Torrey's bout. and the centerpieces. The centerpieces will be half square vases with the roses and calla lilies, surrounded by votives and seashells. The other half will consist of square votives (look like clear brick) on top of a square mirror with shells and candles around them.

DJ: Mathew Dudley with Affinity Entertainment...he ended up being a recommendation from Cassandra...he charges one flat rate for the entire reception which is great!

Dress: The 'Marla' Maggie Sottero from Bridal and Tuxedo Gallery. I also bought the veil you see here which hasnt come in yet. I love it! Here are some pics:

Shoes: Famous Footwear...saw these and thought they are so unusual and have a small heel which I love! I hate heels. Also thought they go well with the beach theme. I still have to try them on with the dress to make sure they go!

Bridesmaid Dress: Alfred Angelo, will prob order through netbride...still have to finalize this dress though. Color will be harvest gold (almost a cafe or champagne color)

Chair Covers: Am in the process of securing Chair Affair...will have gold organza sashes over ivory chair covers with a knot not a bow! For some reason I hate the bow. Will also have gold overlays on the tables.

Flower Girls: Flower girls are FI's two nieces, I guess my nieces now. They are too cute. They will be wearing a white dress with a coral sash.

Rehersal Dinner: At the Town and Country where FI's family is staying. They have a huge gazebo with windows by the pool. We voted on having BBQ food and I love that FI's dad is making sure there are margaritas there for me! FI chose to have Carl Strauss beer there.

Cake: Cascading Seashell Cake by Shirley Resnick of course. Cake will kinda look like the picture below but with cascading shells. The bottomw layer will be double chocolate with rasberry, the middle is strawberry shortcake, and the top will be marble. YUM!!!!

Hair and Makeup: Melissa Reiser of Blue Star Body Lounge...she is my second one cause my first cancelled but I lucked out by getting someone even better. Here's the trial I had done in February:

Invitations: American Wedding Album...these are the first ones I loved and I couldnt find another that went better with my theme and the ambience I am trying to create for our wedding. I am going to order them next month!
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Engagement Pictures/Save the date: done at Moonlight Beach by Robert Jacobs back in July I believe. It turned out to be a perfect day! I took our fave pic and made our save the dates on shutterfly...it was like $50 for 75 of them....cant beat the price and they turned out so cute!Here is the picture we used and the STD read "he dropped a knee, she said yes, we'd love for you to be our guest, ginna and torrey are tying the knot August 12, 2006..."

Registry: Macy's, Williams Sonoma, and Target

Hotel Blocks: Handlery and Best Western Seven Seas

Favors: DIY! I am going to recreate a seashell ornament I was given for xmas. I am going to buy bulk seashells and then glue (Torrey just bought me a hot glue gun!!!) gold and cream ribbon on them. I might even try to figure out a way to write our names and wedding date on the shells. For the little ones I found these cute beach puzzles at Target for $1 a piece.

Miscellaneous: I am starting to think about place cards, menus, etc. I am not sure if I will have a menu because we are having a buffet. My mom says it would be a nice touch. I might just print them myself on these ecru cardstock sheets I found at Michaels that also come with a gold ribbon to put at the top. For place cards I am probably going to get those from staples. We wont have table numbers but will have table names...each named after a beach (La JOlla, Avallon, Moonlight, etc.). The programs will also be bought from staples and I will most likely have kinkos do the copying of those. Everything will be ecru paper with some type of gold ribbon. I found a cute guest book at TJ Max for $12. I lucked out. My purse I got from Robinsons May for like $9. My mom is making my garter!!! :)

Tuxes: Men's Warehouse; all will be wearing a black tux and black shoes; Torrey will wear a soft yellow tie and vest (he refused to wear white or ivory), groomsmen and my dad will wear either all white tie and vest or a color that matches the bridesmaids, and my bros the ushers will wear a black tie and black vest.

Gosh, I think this is it! Wow I didnt realize how much I had done! Feels good though, but there are still tons of little things to do. I still have to do invites, favors, buy the rest of the centerpieces, order/buy gifts, buy rehersal dinner and departure outfit, buy wedding night lingerie (from the Enchantress),etc etc. I also have to move myself into Torrey's (soon to be ours) condo in Mission Valley while Torrey is gone. We did just buy a whole bedroom set of furniture (dark wood with marble!) and will need to get a kitchen table, desk,big screen tv, and maybe a new sofa when he gets home from Iraq. Phew!

Alright, update for the day: I finally found the rest of my centerpieces at Walmart. That place is always out of stock of just what I need. I finally found the square glass mirrors and the ivory candles I wanted. SO to keep my flower/decor budget cheap doing half of my centerpieces with the mirror and candle/candle holder cost me less than $7! Can't beat that.

In the midst of all of this wedding planning I am gearing up to take my NCLEX in June/July already interviewing at hospitals around the area! Within the next two weeks I hope to have a job offer. I have already interview at Sharp Grossmont and Scripps La Jolla, so if anyone out there is an RN and has any advice I would love it!

Torrey has now been gone for two days and I miss him sooo much. I guess he had a horrendous experience flying over to Europe and then to Kuwait but he got to Europe ok and should be in Kuwait now. Luckily I got to speak with him this morning. All I can say is it is going to be a very lonely 3 months.

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